Christopher de Venecia

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Perezand the surname or paternal family name is de Venecia.

• Jose de Venecia Jr. (father)
• Gina de Venecia (mother)

Christopher de Venecia
Portrait during the 18th Congress
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pangasinan's 4th district
In office June 30, 2016 –June 30, 2025
Relatives	Jose de Venecia III (half-brother)
Residence	San Fabian, Pangasinan
Occupation	Politician, writer, theater director, theater producer

Christopher George Martin Perez de Venecia ^[1] (born October 27, 1986), sometimes referred to as Toff de Venecia, ^[3] is a Filipino former child actor, ^[4] writer, director, theater producer, and politician who served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 4th district of Pangasinan from 2016 to 2025. He is the son of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Gina de Venecia.

Education

De Venecia finished his elementary studies at the Colegio de San Agustin and his secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science at the Ateneo de Manila University and completed courses in Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Political career

Congressional stint

De Venecia ran for Representative of the Fourth District of Pangasinan in 2016. ^[2] He ran under the platform B.A.G.E.T.S., which stands for Buhay na Turismo, Agrikultura, Gusali at Imprastraktura, Edukayson, Trabaho, at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan (lit. transl. Living Tourism, Agriculture, Buildings and Infrastructure, Education, Employment, and Health Services). He won that election. In the 2019 elections, he was overwhelmingly re-elected for a second term. ^[5]

In the 18th Congress, he is sitting as a Deputy Majority Leader and also the Chairman of the Special Committee of Creative Industry and Performing Arts. ^[6]

He was also the lead convener of the same Congress's Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Bloc, ^[7] with 6 Deputy Speakers and 12 Committee Chairmen as members.

On July 10, 2020, he, along with his cousin Edward Maceda (Manila–4th), was one of the 11 representatives who voted to grant the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. He is the only North Luzon Representative and the only Pangasinense to grant the franchise as opposed to Conrado Estrella III (Abono), who voted to reject the franchise renewal. ^[8]

De Venecia was re-elected to his third term in 2022.

Key Legislations

The following are the key legislation of de Venecia:

• Eddie Garcia Bill ^[9] - An act seeking to institute policies for the protection and promotion of the welfare of workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry.
• Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Act ^[10] - An act seeking to create a program to support and empower our young farmers and fisherfolk as partners in ensuring food security, agricultural development, and modernization.
• Manaoag Bill ^[11] - An act declaring Manaoag, Pangasinan as a tourist destination.
• Philippine Space Development Act ^[12] - An act seeking to strengthen and aid in the development of agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and telecommunications, apart from space exploration.
• SOGIE Equality Bill ^[13] – An act seeking the nationwide protection of LGBT rights in the Philippines
• Department of Culture Bill ^[14] – An act seeking the establishment of a Department of Culture from the current National Commission on Culture and the Arts
• ARISE Philippines Act ^[15] - An act seeking to offer various forms of assistance to MSMEs and other sectors affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and rebuild consumer confidence.
• Anti-Hazing Act - An act that addresses violence in educational institutions, organizations, and those of community-based due to the alarming increase in the number of deaths resulting from the act of hazing. It prohibits all forms of hazing that will inflict direct or indirect physical or psychological suffering to the recruit at any stage of initiation.
• Free Irrigation Services Act ^[16] - An act that aims to address social order by offering a Free Irrigation Program to all farmers, irrigators' associations, and farmers' cooperatives through the assistance of the National Irrigation Association.
• Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act ^[17] - An act aiming to conserve, restore, and protect the country's historical and cultural heritage and resources by focusing the government's efforts towards Gabaldon school buildings.
• Revised Agricultural Tariffication Act - An Act seeking to secure the country's staple source of food by imposing tariffs on all imports of rice.
• Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act - An act establishing a department responsible for the management of all housing, human settlement, an urban development nationwide.
• Philippine Qualifications Framework Act - An act that strengthens the constitutional rights of every Filipino by providing quality and accessible education at all levels by institutionalizing the PQF.
• An Act Ensuring the Preservation and Management of Protected Areas - An act that aims to continuously protect and maintain protected areas that have been notably recognized with biologically unique features from the increasing human activities that also affects these areas through the National Integrated Protected Areas System.
• San Fabian Holiday - An act that declares March 21 of every year, a special non-working holiday in the whole municipality of San Fabian, Pangasinan in commemoration of its founding anniversary.
• Edades and Bernal Museum ^[18] - An act which seeks to establish an Edades and Bernal Museum in the City of Dagupan, Pangasinan.

Theater career

Directing Experience

Year	Title	Awards / Citation	Role	Source
2019	Dani Girl: A Musical About Hope	2019 Broadway World Awards nominations for: Best Director, Best Actress (Musical), Best Supporting Actor (Musical), and Best Supporting Actress (Musical) 2019 Gawad Buhay Awards nominations for: Outstanding Stage Direction (Musical), Outstanding Production for Existing Material, Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Sound Design, Male Featured Performance in a Musical, Female Featured Performance in a Musical, Female Lead Performance, and Outstanding Ensemble Performance 2019 Inquirer Best of Theater Awards citations for: Best Actress (Musical), Best Actor (Musical)	Director	[19] [20]
2017	Company Call: Bluerep at 25		Director	[21]
2015	No Filter 2.0: The Millennial Monologues		Director and Creator	[22]
2015	No Filter: The Millennial Monologues		Director and Creator	[23]
2015	Ang Tugon ni Conchita		Director	[24]
2015	The Boy in the Bathroom		Director
2015	F(r)iction: A new Musical		Director
2014	The Glass Menagerie	Winner, Bravo! Best of Theater Awards for 2014 Best Featured Actor for JC Santos, Best Featured Actress for Justine Peña	Director
2014	Dani Girl: A Musical Good for the Soul	Inquirer Bravo! Best of Theater Awards 2014 : Best Musical (Non-Filipino Material), Best Featured Actor – Musical, Best Featured Actress – Musical, and nominations for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Featured Actor and Musical Direction Broadway World Philippines nominations for: Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Scenic Design, Best Theater Company	Director	[25]
2014	The Boy in the Bathroom	Winner, Bravo! Best of Theater Awards for 2014 Best Featured Actor for Topper Fabregas, Best Featured Actress for Shiela Francisco	Director
2013-2014	Wait Until Dark		Assistant Director
2013	A New Brain: The Musical		Director
2010-2012	Slideshow		Director
2012	13: The Musical		Director
2012	Spell 13: A Musical Revue		Director
2011-2012	Company Call: Bluerep at 20		Director
2011-2012	You're a Good Man Charlie Brown		Assistant Director	[26]
2011	Little Shop of Horrors	Broadway World Philippines nomination for: Best Director (Musical)	Director	[27]
2008	All Shook Up		Co-Director
2007-2008	Batboy: The Musical		Assistant Director
2007	The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee		Assistant Director

ACTING EXPERIENCE

Year	Title	Awards / Citation	Role	Source
2011-2012	You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown		Linus
2008	Disney's Mulan Jr.		Ancestor Yao, Private Hong
2007-2008	Batboy: The Musical		Pan
2006-2007	Disney's High School Musical		Thespian
2006	Hope for the Flowers		Stripe
2006-2007	Disney's Aladdin Jr.		Iago, Narrator 2
2005	Emperor's New Clothes		Mr. Sew, Paige

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
1993-95	Ober Da Bakod	Dagul		[28] [29]
1993-94	Billy Bilyonaryo	Billy		[28] [29] [30]
1993-95	Haybol Rambol			[31]

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
1993	Pretty Boy	Bongbong		[29]
1993	Kung Kailangan Mo Ako
1994	Ober Da Bakod: The Movie	Dagul
1994	Oo na sige na	Ampon ni Bonggoy

References

1. "Hon. De Venecia, Christopher "Toff" Vera Perez". House Members. House of Representatives. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
2. Soriano, Aldrin (December 9, 2015). "Gina De Venecia withdraws candidacy for son". ABS-CBN News North Central Luzon. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
3. Alpad, Christina (August 23, 2020). "Millennial Congressman Christopher 'Toff' de Venecia finds his place in the sun". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
4. Fernandez, Maritoni (2 May 1993). "A Merry Mix-up". Eksena. Manila Standard . Retrieved 11 September 2016.
5. "Baby Arenas, Toff de V win big – Sunday Punch". Punch.dagupan.com. 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
6. "House okays creation of Committee on Creative Industries – Manila Bulletin". Manila Bulletin .
7. "Toff de Venecia at the 18th Congress". The Philippine STAR .
8. Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com . Retrieved July 22, 2020.
9. "Eddie Garcia bill, aprubado na sa congress". Pilipino Star Ngayon .
10. "Magna Carta of Young Farmers pushed in Congress". The Philippine STAR .
11. "De Venecia wants Manaoag town to be declared tourist destination – Manila Bulletin". Manila Bulletin . 26 October 2019.
12. "Pangasinan solon lauds PH Space Agency creation". Philippine News Agency.
13. "House approves SOGIE equality bill on 2nd reading". 14 September 2017.
14. "Toff de Venecia: Department of Culture to drive economic growth | Politiko North Luzon". 20 August 2018.
15. "House approves P1.3-trillion economic stimulus package vs pandemic". 4 June 2020.
16. "Why is free irrigation important? Toff de Venecia explains why! | Politiko North Luzon". 15 February 2019.
17. "MacArthur's former HQ in Dagupan undergoes restoration". Philippine News Agency.
18. "Toff de Venecia seeks museum honoring painter Victorio Edades | Politiko North Luzon". 25 September 2018.
19. "'Dani Girl,' 'Lam-ang' lead 2019 Gawad Buhay 2nd semestral citations". 17 January 2020.
20. "Best of theater 2019". 13 December 2019.
21. "Ateneo BlueRep: 25 years of youthful passion for musical theater". 7 April 2017.
22. "Sights and Sounds: No Filter 2.0". 5 October 2015.
23. "REVIEW: "No Filter" is original and relatable". 27 July 2015.
24. "| Cultural Center of the Philippines". www.culturalcenter.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2020-11-13.
25. Jeeves de Veyra (August 15, 2019). "Theater review: 'Dani Girl,' a musical about childhood cancer, is oddly uplifting". ABS-CBN News.
26. "Toff de Venecia returns to the stage via Charlie Brown musical". The Philippine STAR .
27. "Ateneo Blue Repertory Presents Little Shop of Horror on Aug 10-27!". 16 August 2011.
28. "Dating Child Star, Nanalong Kongresista sa Pangasinan". Showbiz (in Filipino). GMA News Online. 14 May 2016.
29. De Venecia, Christopher (14 March 2014). "Confessions of a Former Child Star". Toff of the World. The Philippine Star . Retrieved 11 September 2016.
30. Japitana, Norma (29 September 1993). "Welcome Mat for Marichu Maceda". Scenes. Manila Standard . Retrieved 11 September 2016.
31. "Billionaire boys club". The Philippine STAR .

External links

• Media related to Christopher de Venecia at Wikimedia Commons
• Christopher de Venecia at IMDb